Introduction: What Is the Best Shantae Game?
Key Points to Cover
- Briefly introduce the shantae games series
- Explain that Shantae is a colorful action-platformer / Metroidvania series by WayForward
- Mention why players search for the best shantae game
- Address common questions:
- “Which Shantae game is the best?”
- “Which Shantae game should I play first?”
- “What is the best Shantae game on Switch?”
- Naturally include:
- best shantae game
- shantae games ranked
- shantae games
Players who enjoy colorful platforming adventures may also like our Spyro Reignited Trilogy Review: 7 Smart Reasons to Buy, because both games focus on charm, exploration, and accessible action.
Quick Answer: Best Shantae Game Overall
Best Overall Pick
- Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse
- Strong level design
- Great pacing
- Best balance of exploration and action
- Often considered the fan-favorite entry
- Great for both beginners and returning players
Best Shantae Game by Player Type
| Player Type | Best Shantae Game | Why It Fits |
| First-time player | Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse | Best balance and pacing |
| Switch player | Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse / Seven Sirens | Strong portable experience |
| Beginner | Half-Genie Hero | Simple structure and polished visuals |
| Metroidvania fan | Seven Sirens | More connected map design |
| Retro fan | Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution | Classic GBA-style design |
| Completionist | Seven Sirens | Collectibles, cards, and exploration |
Shantae Games Ranked: Best to Worst
Ranking Criteria
- Gameplay feel
- Level design
- Exploration quality
- Beginner friendliness
- Platform availability
- Replay value
- Story and charm
- Visuals and music
- Overall fan appeal
Full Shantae Games Ranking Table
| Rank | Game | Best For | Main Strength |
| 1 | Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse | Most players | Best overall adventure |
| 2 | Shantae and the Seven Sirens | Metroidvania fans | Connected world design |
| 3 | Shantae: Half-Genie Hero | Beginners | Polished and accessible |
| 4 | Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution | Retro fans | Classic lost sequel feel |
| 5 | Shantae: Risky’s Revenge | Short classic experience | Compact Shantae formula |
| 6 | Shantae | Series historians | Original Game Boy Color charm |
Rank 1: Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse
Why Pirate’s Curse Is the Best Shantae Game
- Best mix of platforming, combat, humor, and exploration
- Strong pacing with island-based progression
- Fun pirate tools instead of traditional transformations
- Memorable boss fights
- Great choice for players asking which shantae game is the best
Gameplay Strengths
- Tight controls
- Balanced difficulty
- Smooth item progression
- Fun upgrades
- Easy to understand but rewarding to master
Best Platforms for Pirate’s Curse
- Nintendo Switch
- Nintendo 3DS
- Wii U
- PC / Steam
- PlayStation platforms where available
Keywords to Include Naturally
- pirate curse
- pirate’s curse
- shantae pirate’s curse
- shantae pirates curse
- shantae and the pirate’s curse
- shantae and the pirate’s curse switch
- shantae and the pirate’s curse nintendo switch
- shantae and the pirate’s curse platforms
- shantae and the pirate’s curse ps5
Rank 2: Shantae and the Seven Sirens
Why Seven Sirens Is One of the Best Shantae Games
- More traditional Metroidvania structure
- Connected map design
- Smooth transformation system
- Better exploration flow than some earlier entries
- Strong pick for players who want a modern shantae game
Gameplay and Exploration Highlights
- Fusion magic system
- Monster cards
- Larger connected world
- More modern quality-of-life design
- Good balance between combat and discovery
Who Should Play Seven Sirens?
- Players who like connected maps
- Fans of modern Metroidvania games
- Switch players
- Completionists
- Players who want a newer-feeling Shantae experience
Keywords to Include Naturally
- seven sirens
- seven sirens shantae
- shantae seven sirens
- shantae sirens
- shantae siren
- shantae and the seven sirens
- shantae and the seven sirens switch
- shantae and the seven sirens characters
- shantae 7 sirens
Rank 3: Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Why Half-Genie Hero Is Best for Beginners
- Simple stage-based design
- Clean visuals
- Easy to understand
- Less confusing than older entries
- Great for players searching best shantae game for beginners
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths:
- Beautiful hand-drawn visuals
- Accessible gameplay
- Fun transformations
- Good replay value with extra modes
- Weaknesses:
- Less connected exploration
- Some backtracking
- Not the deepest Metroidvania entry
Best For
- New players
- Younger players
- Casual platformer fans
- Players who want the easiest first entry
- Switch and Steam players
Rank 4: Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution
Why Risky Revolution Matters
- Originally planned as a Game Boy Advance sequel
- Released later as a completed “lost” Shantae adventure
- Chronologically set between the original Shantae and Risky’s Revenge
- Available on modern platforms including Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox, and PC according to WayForward’s release details
- Strong pick for retro platforming fans
Gameplay Highlights
- Classic pixel-art style
- GBA-inspired level design
- Retro feel with modern accessibility
- Risky Boots-focused conflict
- Nostalgic design for long-time fans
Who Should Play Risky Revolution?
- Retro game fans
- Shantae history fans
- Players who enjoy GBA-style platformers
- Fans who already played Pirate’s Curse or Seven Sirens
Keywords to Include Naturally
- shantae advance risky revolution
- shantae game order
- shantae games release order
- shantae games in order
- shantae play order
Rank 5: Shantae: Risky’s Revenge
Why Risky’s Revenge Still Matters
- Helped revive the series after the original Game Boy Color game
- Shorter and more compact than later entries
- Important bridge between classic Shantae and modern Shantae games
- Good for players who want a smaller adventure
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths:
- Classic Shantae charm
- Good music
- Fun transformations
- Short and focused
- Weaknesses:
- Smaller scope
- Can feel dated
- Less polished than later entries
Best For
- Series fans
- Retro handheld fans
- Players who want a short Metroidvania-style platformer
Rank 6: Shantae
Why the Original Shantae Ranks Lower Today
- Important historically
- Charming Game Boy Color visuals
- Introduces Shantae, Risky Boots, and Scuttle Town
- More difficult and dated than later games
- Better for fans than first-time players
Who Should Play the Original?
- Completionists
- Retro collectors
- Fans interested in the roots of the series
- Players following shantae games in order
Why Beginners May Want to Wait
- Older controls
- More limited direction
- Harder difficulty curve
- Less modern quality-of-life support
Best Shantae Game to Start With
Best First Shantae Game Recommendation
- Best first pick: Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse
- Easiest first pick: Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
- Best modern exploration pick: Shantae and the Seven Sirens
Which Shantae Game Should I Play First?
If you like comparing two similar fan-favorite games before choosing, our HeartGold or SoulSilver? 7 Key Differences to Choose Best guide follows the same decision-style format.
| Player Need | Recommended First Game |
| Best overall experience | Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse |
| Easiest entry point | Half-Genie Hero |
| Best modern Metroidvania feel | Seven Sirens |
| Want release order | Shantae |
| Want story order | Shantae → Risky Revolution → Risky’s Revenge |
Keywords to Include Naturally
- best shantae game to start with
- which shantae game should i play first
- best first shantae game
- best shantae game for beginners
- best shantae game to start with reddit
Best Shantae Game on Switch
If you are mainly looking for great platformers on Nintendo Switch, you can also compare these picks with our Ultimate 7 Best 3D Mario Game Ranked for Switch Fans guide.
Best Nintendo Switch Picks
- Best overall on Switch: Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse
- Best modern Switch pick: Shantae and the Seven Sirens
- Best casual Switch pick: Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
- Best retro Switch pick: Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution
Shantae Switch Games Comparison
| Switch Game | Best For | Why Choose It |
| Pirate’s Curse | Best overall | Strong pacing and gameplay |
| Seven Sirens | Metroidvania fans | Connected map and modern flow |
| Half-Genie Hero | Beginners | Simple and polished |
| Risky Revolution | Retro fans | Classic GBA-style adventure |
| Original Shantae | Series history | Retro charm |
Keywords to Include Naturally
- best shantae game on switch
- shantae game switch
- shantae games switch
- shantae games for switch
- shantae switch games
- shantae and the seven sirens switch
- shantae pirate’s curse switch
Shantae Games in Order
Release Order
| Order | Game | Original Release Context |
| 1 | Shantae | Original Game Boy Color entry |
| 2 | Shantae: Risky’s Revenge | Revival sequel |
| 3 | Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse | Fan-favorite third entry |
| 4 | Shantae: Half-Genie Hero | HD stage-based entry |
| 5 | Shantae and the Seven Sirens | Modern Metroidvania-style entry |
| 6 | Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution | Completed lost GBA sequel |
Story / Chronological Order
| Chronological Order | Game |
| 1 | Shantae |
| 2 | Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution |
| 3 | Shantae: Risky’s Revenge |
| 4 | Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse |
| 5 | Shantae: Half-Genie Hero |
| 6 | Shantae and the Seven Sirens |
Keywords to Include Naturally
- how many shantae games are there
- shantae game order
- shantae games order
- shantae games in order
- shantae games release order
- shantae play order
- best shantae games in order
Pirate’s Curse vs Seven Sirens
Players who enjoy exploration-heavy adventures and connected world design may also enjoy our Best Zelda Game Ranked: Ultimate Top 10 Guide.
Which One Is Better?
- Pirate’s Curse
- Better pacing
- Better item progression
- Stronger overall adventure
- Best for most players
- Seven Sirens
- Better connected world
- More modern Metroidvania design
- Better for exploration-heavy players
- Stronger for completionists
Comparison Table
| Category | Pirate’s Curse | Seven Sirens |
| Best For | Most players | Metroidvania fans |
| Structure | Island-based | Connected world |
| Difficulty | Balanced | Moderate |
| Exploration | Strong | Stronger map flow |
| Beginner Friendly | Very good | Good |
| Replay Value | High | High |
Best Shantae Games by Platform
Best Shantae Game on Steam
- Best overall: Pirate’s Curse
- Best modern option: Seven Sirens
- Best beginner option: Half-Genie Hero
- Best retro option: Risky Revolution
Best Shantae Game on PS5
- Pirate’s Curse if available in your region/storefront
- Seven Sirens for a modern experience
- Risky Revolution for retro-style play
- Half-Genie Hero for beginner-friendly gameplay
Best Shantae Game on 3DS
- Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse
- Risky’s Revenge
- Original Shantae via older digital availability where applicable
Keywords to Include Naturally
- best shantae game on steam
- best shantae 3ds game
- shantae and the pirate’s curse ps5
- shantae and the pirate’s curse platforms
Worst Shantae Game: Which One Should You Skip First?
Honest Ranking Note
- No main Shantae game is truly bad
- The original Shantae is usually hardest to recommend first
- It ranks lower because it feels older, harder, and less beginner-friendly
- Better to play later if you enjoy the series
When the Original Shantae Is Still Worth Playing
- You enjoy retro games
- You want series history
- You like Game Boy Color design
- You want to see where the series began
Keywords to Include Naturally
- worst shantae game
- shantae games best to worst
- best rated shantae game
Pros and Cons of Starting With Each Top Shantae Game
Comparison Table
| Game | Pros | Cons |
| Pirate’s Curse | Best pacing, great tools, strong adventure | Less traditional transformation focus |
| Seven Sirens | Connected map, modern design, good exploration | Slightly slower pacing |
| Half-Genie Hero | Easy to start, beautiful visuals | Less exploration depth |
| Risky Revolution | Retro charm, unique history | More appealing after playing others |
| Risky’s Revenge | Short and classic | Smaller and older-feeling |
| Original Shantae | Historic and charming | Hardest for beginners |
About best shantae game
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a colorful action-platformer and one of the most loved games in the Shantae games series. In this adventure, Shantae has lost her genie powers and must team up with her old enemy, Risky Boots, to stop a dangerous curse from spreading across Sequin Land.
Many fans consider it the best Shantae game because it has great pacing, tight controls, funny dialogue, strong level design, and a smooth balance between combat, exploration, and platforming. Instead of using her usual transformation dances, Shantae gains pirate tools that help her reach new areas, solve puzzles, and fight enemies in creative ways.
The game is also a great choice for beginners. If you are asking which Shantae game should I play first, Pirate’s Curse is one of the easiest recommendations because it feels simple to understand but still rewarding to master. It is not too long, not too difficult, and not too confusing for new players.
For Switch players, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is also one of the strongest picks because it works well as a portable game. Short levels, fast action, and charming visuals make it enjoyable in both handheld and docked mode.
Overall, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a fun, polished, and memorable platforming adventure. It is the best starting point for most players and deserves its top place in many Shantae games ranked lists.
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse Minimum System Requirements
| Component | Minimum Requirement |
| OS | Windows Vista / Windows 7 |
| Processor | Intel Pentium 4 2.4GHz with Hyper Threading |
| RAM | 1GB |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics |
| DirectX | Version 11 |
| Storage | 1GB available space |
Source: Steam lists these as the official minimum PC requirements for Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse.
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse Maximum / Recommended System Requirements
| Component | Recommended Requirement |
| OS | Windows 7 / Windows 8 |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo / AMD Athlon 64 X2 or higher |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce 200 series or higher / AMD Radeon HD5000 series or higher |
| VRAM | At least 512MB display memory |
| DirectX | Version 11 |
| Storage | 2GB available space |
DOWNLOAD HERE!
Final Verdict: Which Shantae Game Is the Best?
Best Overall Choice
- Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse
- Best pacing
- Best beginner-to-fan balance
- Strong platform availability
- Best mix of action, exploration, and charm
Best Alternative Choices
- Best for beginners: Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
- Best for Metroidvania fans: Shantae and the Seven Sirens
- Best for Switch players: Pirate’s Curse or Seven Sirens
- Best for retro fans: Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution
- Best for story order: Start with Shantae, then Risky Revolution
Final Ranking Summary
| Final Rank | Game | Verdict |
| 1 | Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse | Best Shantae game overall |
| 2 | Shantae and the Seven Sirens | Best modern Metroidvania-style entry |
| 3 | Shantae: Half-Genie Hero | Best beginner-friendly entry |
| 4 | Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution | Best retro-style modern release |
| 5 | Shantae: Risky’s Revenge | Best short classic entry |
| 6 | Shantae | Best for series history |
2 Responses